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Since public hearings on draft zoning changes to create more housing options in Portland’s residential neighborhoods last May, the PSC held a series of work sessions on the RIP proposals. Over the course of 8 work sessions, they deliberated over the technical details of the proposal. The result is a series of amendments to the proposed zoning code and map changes.

At their September 11 work session, the PSC reviewed these amendments and gave staff the nod to begin revising the zoning code language and maps to incorporate their changes.

Prioritizing housing choice and optionsThe Commission’s revised proposals would allow a wide range of housing types, including triplexes and fourplexes in single-dwelling zones. They also pushed to broaden the area where these housing choices would be allowed. To address the demolition of single-family homes, they created more incentives to retain existing houses, such as allowing them to be split into multiple units. They pushed for more flexibility for accessory dwelling units to incentivize their construction. And they looked for ways to create more homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers.

"If we continue our pattern of development today of tearing down smaller existing homes and building much larger single-family homes, we will lose the opportunity to create more housing options," said PSC Chair Katherine Schultz. “With our amendments, we’re prioritizing a wide range of housing types over single-family homes, internal conversions over demolition, the environment over increased consumption of land, and great neighborhoods for people of all ages, incomes and abilities.”

Watch the video(s)You can watch the PSC as they give staff direction on their amendments to the Proposed Draft. The RIP discussion begins at 1:09:00.

Read the materialsYou can also review staff-prepared work session materials for the September 11 work session and preliminary vote. Recaps of previous work sessions are also available on the RIP news updates.

Next stepsOnce project staff have written the code to implement the proposed changes and revised the map, they will come back to the PSC for a final vote later this fall.

The public will be able to weigh in on the PSC’s recommended map and code after they are forwarded to City Council, which will hold public hearings and accept written testimony on the RIP Recommended Draft.